Political Commentary & Opinion
Analysis, commentary, and opinion essays on politics and policy from The Daily Signal’s contributors and experts.
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opinion
The Unforeseen Consequences of Transgenderism
Determining one’s own sex or that of another used to be a simple matter. First, there was the matter of appearance, whether a person looked like a male or looked like a female. If appearance produced some uncertainties, one could determine sex by examining a person’s birth certificate. If appearance and a birth certificate produced… -
opinion
Where the Fight Against ISIS Stands, and How the US Can Win
The Trump administration has invited 68 countries and international organizations to attend a summit in Washington on Wednesday to coordinate policies to defeat the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will lead the two-day gathering of foreign ministers in synchronizing coalition efforts to destroy ISIS on the battlefield, prevent it… -
opinion
This Harmful Housing Rule Deserves to Be Overturned by Congress
In the last few months of the Obama administration, the Federal Housing Finance Agency advanced a final rule for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac called “Enterprise Duty To Serve Underserved Markets.” This rule establishes a duty for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two government-sponsored enterprises, to support a secondary market for certain mortgages—ones related… -
opinion
How Congress Can Send a Strong Message to Cuban Diplomats in DC
Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Bob Menendez, D-N.J., have reintroduced a bill to rename the street outside the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C., after Oswaldo Payá. This bill conveys a sense of solidarity with the Cuban people whose rights have long been abused by their corrupt and evil government. Human rights violations… -
opinion
These Bad Laws Are Perpetuating Waste and Abuse in Local Government
A federal audit by the Department of Justice inspector general has revealed that the Franklin County, New York, district attorney’s office misused or mishandled $454,673 in equitable funds over a five-year period. The report is yet more evidence that civil forfeiture laws are too easily abused and in serious need of reform. Forfeiture laws empower… -
opinion
Why the ‘Establishment’ Media Is Finding Itself on Shaky Ground
As a member of The Daily Signal team, I took offense to The Washington Post’s recent questioning of our “legitimacy” as a news organization. The Washington Post began its story stating that, “In an age of partisan media, the lines between ‘partisan’ and ‘media’ can sometimes blur.” I wonder if the reporter has taken a look… -
news
Conservatives Defend The Daily Signal After Washington Post Questions Legitimacy
Conservatives are coming to the defense of The Daily Signal after The Washington Post questioned its journalistic legitimacy for being part of White House press pool coverage. Pool reporting is a responsibility that includes covering day-to-day activities of the president, vice president, and first lady. The Washington Post called Daily Signal correspondent Fred Lucas’ participation… -
opinion
We Hear You: ‘Relevant, Accurate, Honest News on Subjects That Matter’
Editor's note: We heard from many of you about Editor-in-Chief Rob Bluey's March 12 commentary on The Washington Post story questioning inclusion of The Daily Signal's White House correspondent, Fred Lucas, in the press pool that covers President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence wherever they go. Here's a hefty sampling. —Ken McIntyre Dear… -
news
Paul Ryan Stands by GOP Health Care Bill: ‘I Didn’t Come Here to Be Popular’
“I didn’t come here to be popular, I came here to get stuff done.” Those were the words of House Speaker Paul Ryan at the National Review Institute’s 2017 Ideas Summit in Washington. Despite criticism from members of his own party, Ryan remains confident that the American Health Care Act (AHCA) is the bill to… -
opinion
The Truth About the Supposedly Impartial News Media
A recent Washington Post article by media reporter Paul Farhi raises the alarm that the White House Correspondents’ Association has not once, but twice, assigned a Daily Signal employee, Fred Lucas, to be the pool reporter, i.e., the reporter who serves as the “proxy for the rest of the press corps.” The Daily Signal is… -
opinion
New York Times Misuses Data to Criticize Defunding of Planned Parenthood
Earlier this week, The New York Times ran a piece responding to Congress’ current plan to reallocate Planned Parenthood funding. The piece is little more than a recycling of old, problematic studies conducted by a partisan research group, combined with both anecdotal and selective evidence drawn from interviews and media reports. The article also completely… -
news
Freedom Caucus Members Stress Importance of Entitlement Reform
Several members of the House Freedom Caucus shared their concern for the future of entitlement reform, emphasizing disappointment that it was not a part of President Donald Trump’s newly released budget. Reps. Raúl Labrador, R-Idaho; Mark Meadows, R-N.C.; and Louie Gohmert, R-Texas; expressed support for entitlement reform at a monthly Capitol Hill gathering. Trump’s budget… -
news
Kellyanne Conway ‘Happy’ About GOP Health Care Disagreements, Shows ‘Diverse Opinions’
Senior White House official Kellyanne Conway made the case for some intraparty conflict in remarks Friday. “I’m happy that the Republican Party is not a party just in lockstep, always agreeing with each other,” Conway said at the National Review Institute’s Ideas Summit. On the issue of health care, Conway referred to the GOP as… -
opinion
Misleading Rhetoric Can’t Mask Failings of GOP Health Care Bill
“When you look at where we are, there’s over 85 percent of this bill that has universal agreement among Republicans.” That was the message from House Majority Whip Steve Scalise on Sunday. There is just one problem with that assertion: It ignores what is not in the bill. For the past 10 days, Heritage Action for… -
opinion
Latest Projections Show Farm ‘Safety Net’ Is Going to Cost More Than Originally Projected
Farm subsidy apologists try to make the claim that Congress shouldn’t look to farm subsidies for savings because farmers already did their part to save money in the 2014 farm bill. In fact, they claim the latest projected savings are even greater than the small savings expected at the time of the bill’s passage. So,… -
opinion
It’s Not Fake News: Predators Are Taking Advantage of Target’s Fitting Room Policy
In April 2016, retail giant Target waded into the raging national debate about whether bathrooms should be maintained as exclusively single-sex. In a post on its blog titled “Continuing to Stand for Inclusivity,” the company announced, “we felt it was important to state our position” that in Target stores “team members and guests” are permitted… -
opinion
Jeff Sessions’ Speech to Law Enforcement Signals Tough Approach to Violent Crime
Earlier this morning in Richmond, Virginia, Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke to a gathering of law enforcement leaders from across the country to lay out the Department of Justice’s agenda for addressing the surge in violent crime affecting the nation. While acknowledging that crime rates remain near historic lows, Sessions correctly pointed out that over… -
opinion
House Leadership’s Health Bill Is Not What Republicans Promised. We Can Do Better.
President Ronald Reagan once said, "We should carry a banner of no pale pastels—but one of bold colors, which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on the issues." The 2010 mid-term elections were historic. Running opposite of President Barack Obama’s agenda—primarily the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare—the Republican efforts… -
opinion
Defend Workers by Making Unions More Democratic
Workers should be represented by people they choose, rather than by legacy institutions. Recent Heritage Foundation research found that only 6 percent of union workers covered by the National Labor Relations Act voted for their current union representation. Most inherited organizations and representatives were voted in by earlier generations of workers. Out of 8 million… -
opinion
Are You Really Pro-Liberty? Here Are a Few Tests.
Most Americans, whether liberal or conservative, Democratic or Republican, do not show much understanding or respect for the principles of personal liberty. We criticize our political leaders, but we must recognize that their behavior simply reflects the values of people who elected them to office. That means we are all to blame for greater governmental…